Poland will receive almost EUR 44 billion from the SAFE program. Details of the program are presented by Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka. — The SAFE regulation specifies precisely what we can buy. There is a list of products that can be purchased for this money, but there is also an indication that it must be European equipment. 65 percent a component of a given product made in the European Economic Area. The company must operate in the EU, says a government representative. He emphasizes that this is why there is no American or Korean equipment in this pool.
The article continues below the video
What funds should Poland receive from the SAFE program?
What will the money from the SAFE program be used for?
What are the criteria for equipment purchases under the SAFE program?
What percentage of funds is to go to the Polish arms industry?
He adds that another criterion of the SAFE program is that the equipment must be produced and delivered by 2030. – It is not that simple in the defense industry – he emphasizes.
Billions from the SAFE program will go to Poland. They will be allocated for this
Sobkowiak-Czarnecka informs that a large part of the money from the SAFE program, as much as EUR 10 billion, will be allocated to the East Shield. Including the drone wall and cybersecurity.
— What is also important in the SAFE mechanism is that the EC wanted to persuade member states to make joint purchases. We have two countries that meet at the same manufacturer and say: we want this equipment, says the politician.
He points out that Poland encouraged member states to buy from Polish industry. — The previous government mainly bought abroad, but there was never any such proportion that 89 percent funds will go to the Polish arms industry. I believe that if we spend the most on armaments in the EU, if we receive the most money from the SAFE program, then we should have the best armaments system in Europe, he emphasizes.
Sobkowiak-Czarnecka also lists the areas covered by the SAFE program. These are drones and anti-drones; Shield East, the “Safe Baltic Sea” program, cybersecurity, development of artificial intelligence, military mobility, strengthening the Border Guard and police, as well as missile and anti-missile capabilities, including air refueling.
